"What’s this?" I arched a brow as Maxson dropped an envelope on the table, interrupting my reading.
He sprawled on the couch across from me, smirking. "A lieutenant from Squad 4 handed it to me. Said it's for you." His gaze sharpened. "Seems you're catching attention here."
*What's his problem?*
Ignoring him, I opened the envelope. An invitation. *Interesting.*
"Well?" Maxson prodded.
"They're inviting us—well, *me*—to a small celebration with the captains and lieutenants." I smoothed the paper between my fingers.
"Oh? Am *I* included?"
"Doubt it, *Sire*." My tone dripped sarcasm. To my annoyance, he only grinned wider, that infuriating glint in his eyes.
*Tsk.*
"Sire, I wouldn't mind murdering a man named Maxson today."
He laughed. "I know. You're off-limits." Rising, he changed the subject. "What time?"
"6:00 PM sharp."
Without another word, he strolled out—likely to "relax" with some woman. *Correction:* not just *any* woman. Maxson had standards—appearance and pedigree mattered.
---
We arrived at Taidan, where a waitress led us to a private room. Lieutenant Ren greeted us, ushering us inside.
The room hummed with quiet scrutiny as we entered. Traditional seating—floor cushions instead of chairs—lined the space. Two empty spots remained: one beside Captain Chen, the other near a man with two sake bottles in front of him.
*Deja vu prickled my nerves.*
The man's gaze snapped to me, his grin widening. "Yo! Mi—"
A woman clamped a hand over his mouth. "Hello! Go ahead and sit," she chirped.
Maxson claimed the spot by Chen, so I took the other. Introductions followed—Captains Xu, Masashi, Kiro, Kei, and their lieutenants. Yet their questions felt... *loaded*.
"Nyssa," Captain Masashi slung an arm around me, reeking of sake, "you *sure* you don't remember *anything* about Hiyosko?"
"Second visit. First time was as a child." I shrugged him off. "Why?"
Lieutenant Eisha leaned in. "*Nothing* at all?"
"Nothing."
A weighted silence fell.
"Is there an issue with Nyssa?" Maxson interjected, sipping his drink.
Awkward laughter. "Nope!"
The mood lightened, but the undercurrent remained. Strangely, the longer I stayed, the more *familiar* it all felt—like I'd known them before.
Masashi, now flushed, nudged me. "You hold your liquor well."
"Noble survival skill." I downed another cup. "Social gatherings demand stamina."
He cackled. "Fair."
Across the room, Captain Chen stood and slipped outside. Curiosity propelled me after him.
He sat alone under the night sky, his expression unreadable.
"Why are you here?" His voice was cold, yet oddly gentle.
I tilted my head. "Wishing on stars?"
"None of your business."
I smirked. "If it's girl trouble, ask Maxson. He's *full* of advice."
Chen stiffened. "Tsk." He walked away, but not before shooting me a glare that *almost* looked... *pained*.
*Who's the unlucky woman?*
Or was it something deeper?
*Why do I even care?*
By 9 PM, we staggered back. Maxson, thoroughly drunk after challenging Masashi, leaned on Captain Kiro for support.
"How long are you staying in Hiyosko?" Kiro asked.
"Leaving tomorrow—unless *he* delays us." I jerked my chin at Maxson.
Kiro chuckled. "Oh, he's not going anywhere yet."
*Obviously.* Maxson wouldn't leave until he'd flirted with every eligible woman here.
Inside the hotel, Kiro helped haul Maxson to his room. As he turned to leave, he paused, studying me with an inscrutable look.
*Weird.*
But then again, *all* of them were.
Exhausted but oddly lighthearted, I washed up and collapsed into bed.
For the first time, Hiyosko didn't feel like just another stop. These people—*annoying, cryptic, but genuine*—were... nice.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.